- Japan is expanding efforts to collect used cooking oil from households and businesses to reduce aviation emissions.
- Limited feedstock and production capacity could force Japan to rely on SAF imports to meet its 2030 target.
Japan is intensifying efforts to convert used cooking oil into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as it works towards its goal of sourcing 10 per cent of airline fuel from sustainable sources by 2030.
At the centre of the initiative are households like that of Tokyo resident Maki Watanabe, who collects and donates used cooking oil from her kitchen. Her contributions support the public-private “Fry to Fly” programme, which gathers waste cooking oil from homes and businesses for SAF production.
The initiative has gained urgency as global energy market disruptions and rising fuel costs increase pressure on Japan, a country that relies heavily on imported energy resources.
Japan estimates it will need about 1.7 million kilolitres of SAF by 2030. To reduce dependence on imports, the country plans to produce as much fuel as possible from domestically sourced used cooking oil, one of the most affordable feedstocks for SAF production.
However, limited feedstock availability and inadequate infrastructure continue to slow progress. Current domestic SAF production stands at only 30,000 kilolitres annually, representing just 0.3 per cent of the country’s total jet fuel consumption.
As a result, Japan’s two largest airlines, All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines, have warned that achieving the country’s SAF targets will be more challenging than originally expected.
The aviation sector faces increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions, yet many SAF projects worldwide have struggled to move beyond the planning stage. High production costs remain a major obstacle, while limited supply threatens to increase costs for both refiners and airlines.
If domestic production falls short, refiners may need to import SAF or feedstock at higher prices. Consequently, airlines could face higher operating costs and potential regulatory penalties linked to sustainability targets.
To accelerate production, the Japanese government has urged refiners to make final investment decisions by March next year to ensure commercial-scale production can begin before 2030.
Eneos has identified cooking oil collection volumes as a key factor in deciding whether to proceed with a proposed SAF project alongside Mitsubishi Corporation. The project could produce 400,000 kilolitres of SAF annually after the 2028 fiscal year.
Meanwhile, engineering firm JGC Holdings has called for clearer demand signals before expanding production capacity. The company launched Japan’s first commercial-scale SAF facility last year through a joint venture with Cosmo Energy Holdings and biodiesel producer REVO International. The facility currently produces about 30,000 kilolitres of SAF annually.
Public and private organisations are also expanding collection programmes. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government plans to increase public awareness and improve collection systems across the city’s 7.8 million households. Last year, authorities distributed 13,000 collection funnels with QR-coded instructions to encourage participation.
In addition, companies such as Fujifilm have started collecting used cooking oil from employee cafeterias. Major retailers including Aeon, Ito-Yokado, and 7-Eleven are also expanding collection points nationwide.
Despite these efforts, industry experts believe domestic feedstock alone will not meet future demand. According to recycling industry group UCO Japan, even if Japan collected every available drop of used cooking oil, the resulting supply would produce only about one-quarter of the SAF needed by 2030.
Therefore, analysts expect Japan to rely on imported SAF and alternative technologies, such as bioethanol-based aviation fuel, until larger-scale domestic production becomes commercially viable.
Experts argue that Japan’s 2030 target remains highly ambitious. However, they also note that used cooking oil currently represents the country’s most practical domestic feedstock option for expanding sustainable aviation fuel production in the near term.